Theia peeked around the corner and saw a guard approaching. He wore light armor over a blue uniform, and his face was dimly lit by the flickering oil lantern he held.
"Are you in?" Theia whispered urgently to Hilda, feeling the tension rising as the guard drew closer.
Hilda didn't respond, her focus entirely on the lock. It was a simple lock, but it required time to pick, and Hilda hadn't been trained in the art of lock-picking—her main role had always been to protect Reeva.
Theia's eyes darted back and forth between the guard and Hilda, watching them both like a hawk. They had about 15 seconds before the guard reached their position. The manor grounds were slowly becoming more illuminated as the guard made his way through, lighting lanterns one by one.
A bead of sweat dripped down Theia's forehead as she held her breath, waiting for Hilda to finish unlocking the door. She wanted to ask again if it was done, but held back, seeing Hilda's concentration.
